HURRICANE Ivan's deadly winds and monstrous waves hit Jamaica's shore last night as more than half-a-million people were forced to flee from its path.

The most destructive of four hurricanes this season took a path headed straight for the densely populated capital of Kingston and on through the Caribbean island to Montego Bay.

In its wake, it has left the spice island of Grenada a wasteland of flattened houses, twisted metal and splintered wood.

The death toll there rose to more than 30, including two foreign yachtsmen, and was expected to rise.

The 150mph hurricane's advance guard began by kicking up heavy rain and winds off the eastern tip of Jamaica, a narrow 145-mile-long island of more then 2.5 million people, and was being felt as far away as Montego Bay, forcing authorities to close the airport and leavinghundreds of tourists stranded.

Armed private guards began patrolling against looters in Montego Bay yesterday afternoon, when driving rains flooded roads with up to a foot of water.

A large storm surge also flooded roads in easternJamaica.

Up to one-in-five Jamaicans were believed to have abandoned their homes as Ivan drew nearer.

In neighbouring Haiti, the storm forced piles of sand and water up to knee height in Les Cayes, a city of 300,000 people.